Grand Dédale, located close to Wellington at the foot of the Bainskloof Pass, offers its guests an exclusive brand of elegant country house living, on a par with the best privately owned country houses in Europe.

The renovation of the deluxe facility, formerly the Doolhof Manor House, situated on Doolhof Wine Estate, with sweeping views of the valley, Groenberg, Limietberge and Hawekwa mountains, has been completed in September 2009.

At Grand Dédale, South African and international guests will be able to enjoy sumptuous comfort, discreet service and complete privacy in six individually designed and appointed en-suite bedrooms, or in the separate thatched stone cottage, amidst beautiful Winelands scenery.

Facilities comprise a swimming pool, a spa room, hiking, horse riding, mountain biking, a River Walk and a Vineyard Walk on the Estate, while fishing, canyoning and other leisure sports, including golf played on world class golf courses, are a short drive away.

The Country House will also be available for functions and weddings.

Accommodation consists of six beautifully appointed and individually designed rooms and suites in the historic Manor House and one free standing thatched cottage, all reflecting the Cape Dutch elegance of the buildings with 21st century comfort and 5 star luxury. Interiors have been carefully chosen to suit the style, with a subtle use of technology. The rooms are spacious and equipped with the finest materials, linen and amenities giving an instant homely feel.

For your in-room comfort and entertainment all our rooms offer the following:

* Complimentary fruit basket and fresh flowers
* Air-conditioning
* Under-tile heating
* Two heated towel rails
* Twin basin
* Shower & free standing bath
* Hairdryer
* High quality 720 g towels
* Velour bathrobes
* Luxury amenities
* 300 thread count percale cotton linen
* Imported, allergy-free down duvets and pillows (fine fibre pillows are available on request)
* Tea & coffee facility
* Electronic safe
* Wireless internet connection
* I-pod docking station with radio and alarm clock
* Remote telephone for internal and external calls

The Cape Winelands are popular for "good food & wine", and at Grand Dédale we strive to live up to this promise and exceed every expectation. Our specialties include wholesome Cape-style dishes with the emphasis on game and seafood, prepared by our local resident chef. All ingredients are fresh and locally sourced ensuring a truly African feast with every meal.

Start your day with a sumptuous "Cap Classique" breakfast with a range of homemade treats such as freshly squeezed juices, homemade jams, exotic fruit slices and fruit salads, as well as freshly baked breads, rolls, muffins and croissants, homemade mueslis, healthy cereals and yoghurts. In addition we offer a mouth-watering selection of cooked dishes.

Light lunches and snacks are served throughout the day.

There are many beautiful picnic spots on the Estate and the surrounding areas. Pack your blanket, a good book and one of our delicious picnic baskets and you are perfectly equipped for a lazy day out in the mountains or by the beach. For the active hiker or mountain biker we also have picnic backpacks available which can be filled with carbohydrate-packed snacks. Please order your picnic basket a day in advance.

In the afternoons we serve a high tea buffet with freshly baked delicacies.

Sunsets in the Winelands are magical, leaving the mountains dipped in shades of orange and purple. At Grand Dédale we celebrate this event with sundown pre-dinner drinks on the veranda or by the pool. On cooler evenings we serve the aperitif in the library in front of the fireplace. This is followed by a four course table d’hôte menu, prepared by our local resident chef. Emphasising game and seafood, all ingredients are locally sourced and prepared in a Cape idiom.

With an abundance of possibilities to fill one’s day, we recommend a minimum stay of 2 nights.

The vast Estate offers a wide range of outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, mountain biking and horse riding. For a leisurely stroll choose the River Walk, a path of about 2 km winding along the river bank with three pedestrian bridges crisscrossing the river. For the more active hiker, there is a 10 km Vineyard Walk which will lead you past all our noble grape varieties and reveals the most beautiful views of all the mountain ranges surrounding us…or why not hike up to the top of Bainskloof Pass from which you can enjoy the most scenic views over the entire Estate? The wild life on the Estate includes small mammals, like buck, porcupine, baboons and even Cape leopards have been spotted.

Alternatively, the Limietberg Nature Reserve which is only 10 minutes drive from the Estate offers 9 different hiking trails through fynbos rich areas which are interrupted by clear rock pools giving hikers the opportunity to cool off.

Two mountain bikes are available for our in-house guests, while horse riding can be arranged for experienced riders at a surcharge.

For larger groups we can arrange clay pigeon shooting and quad biking on the Estate.

Many more activities, such as trout fishing, hot air ballooning, paragliding and canyoning are available close by and we are ready to assist with arrangements.

Some of the most beautiful golf courses are within a 45-minute drive, and guests staying at Grand Dédale can enjoy preferential rates at Pearl Valley Golf Club, currently ranked the ‘5th best course in South Africa’ by Golf Digest.

On request a professional therapist is available to perform a wide range of stress relieving and invigorating spa treatments, either in our treatment room by the pool or in the privacy of your own room. Kindly enquire about the available treatments. It is advisable to book your treatment at least 48 hours in advance to avoid disappointment.

Our pool deck enjoys sun throughout the day. With its 15 meter length and a large “Champagne” step, it has been designed not only to serve the keen swimmer but also the laid-back guest looking to cool off with a glass of wine in hand.

The TV lounge is located upstairs, keeping you up to date with international news. Wireless internet connection is available throughout. On cooler days our tea lounge is just the right spot to spend the afternoon, in front of the fire place, with a good book from our library and a glass of red wine.

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